At that moment my companions and the boys who were following were crying in hoarse concert—
“Come down, uncle Candiola. Come down, dog of a Caiaphas!”
Contrary to our expectation, Candiola obeyed; but he did it believing that he had to do with the mob of vagabond boys who were in the habit of giving him such serenades, with no suspicion that the president of the junta of supplies, and two others in authority, were there to talk with him on a matter of importance. He soon had occasion to know that this was a serious matter, for at the opening of the door, as he came running out with a cudgel in his hand, and his ugly eyes glowing with wrath, he came face to face with Montoria, and drew back in alarm.
“Ah, it is you, Señor de Montoria,” he said, with very bad grace. “How is it that you, being a member of the committee of public safety, have not been able to disperse this rabble which has come to make this